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Billy Gilmour blow won't stop Scotland nicking the result they deserve

England won't have it easy against Czech Republic

Scotland manager Steve Clarke congratulates striker Che Adams
Scotland manager Steve Clarke congratulates striker Che AdamsCredit: Facundo Arrizabalaga

We've shown we can keep a clean sheet against one of the best teams in the world – now it's a goal we need and I'm convinced Scotland can make light of Billy Gilmour's absence and beat Croatia.

I'd be worried stepping out at Hampden Park against a team still as good as the Croatians are, if we weren't creating chances.

But we created a few good openings against both the Czechs and England and have just lacked that little bit of luck in front of goal.

Maybe now's the time when we get that bit of luck. One goal, that's all we need, and I am confident that, roared on by a Hampden Park crowd, we'll score it.

Losing Gilmour is a huge blow. He had such an impact against England and Croatia would have been wary of him. But it means a chance for someone else and I'm no less positive.

Scoring goals is the hardest thing to do in football. That's why Harry Kane gets paid the colossal bucks he does - because he can do it and he can do it consistently at the highest level.

But if we can reproduce the performance at Wembley then I believe the chances will come, and maybe a few more besides.

I don't see Steve Clarke making any other changes to the 11 who shut down England on Friday night. If everyone's fit it has to be the same team for me.

And that's a show of faith in Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes, who might not be finding the net but they are a really powerful, strong, disruptive duo, who will bring other supporting players into the game.

Dykes carries that massive aerial threat and will be a handful for any central defender.

And I thought Adams was absolutely outstanding against England. The way he dropped into those holes between the back line and Declan Rice made the evening a really uncomfortable one for the West Ham player, who kept being dragged around.

Adams' runs down the sides were well timed, he was a threat in the box and he had a couple of chances that on another day he might have taken.

You only get those chances, of course, if the platform is right and Clarke got it absolutely spot on. The back three, often a back five, looked secure and as a team they stopped Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden from going into those pockets and causing problems.

And of course they did the ultimate job on Kane, denying him a single shot on target.

The whole of Scotland was unbelievably proud of what unfolded on Friday night. Our players hadn't experienced anything like that and they coped with it exceptionally, to the point that they stopped a really good England team from functioning.

One player who deserved all the plaudits was Gilmour. I'd have played him against the Czechs as well because he's got something about him, so much maturity for a young kid.

With Billy out, there'll be a change. I imagine Stevie will bring Scott McTominay in alongside Callum McGregor and bring Jack Hendry back in at right centre-back.

And McTominay will be buzzing after his own performance at Wembley. I also think he was the best Manchester United player in their Europa League final defeat by Villarreal, so he's full of confidence.

I was looking forward to seeing Gilmour take on Luka Modric but it is what it is, and I still believe.

Croatia are still a very good team mind. World Cup finalists three years ago, maybe they have dropped a bit but they remain a top, top side.

But I'm asking myself - can Modric do three games in eight days?. He's 35 years old, he'll be 36 in September, he's had a long season with Real Madrid going in to these finals – he's started 42 games for Real since the middle of September – and yet they'll be looking to him to lead them again.

Croatia are a class side with class players in the likes of Perisic, Rebic, Kramaric as well as the midfield two, and it's another massive test for us.

But we go into this game believing, genuinely believing. Everyone knows we can run, we're physical, we graft, but now we're showing we can play as well, and shouldn't be taken lightly.

All we need is a goal and the way we are defending, one goal might well be all we need. And I'm taking us to win it 1-0 and hope that that's enough to get us into the last 16.

Czechs are no pushovers

England need to put in a performance after being outfought by us, but don't write off the Czechs. They are a good side.

There is an awful lot of quality throughout the Czech ranks – West Ham fans don't need reminding, for example, what a decent duo Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal are.

And Patrik Schick looks a real threat leading the line. He has goals in him, as he's proved already with three to his name.

Schick had a decent season with Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and has brought that form with him to the Euros. His goals against Scotland – the strong header and the opportunist strike – showed what an all-round presence he is.

But this is about England. If they play well they should win but that means Gareth Southgate taking the chances he didn't against us.

They give you five substitutes yet he only used two – with all those stars sat on the bench.

Jadon Sancho is a wonderful talent yet he hasn’t got on the pitch. Maybe Gareth Southgate is planning to give him a start now, to freshen things up.

I wouldn't be leaving out Mason Mount – I thought he was the only one of their attacking players who looked to be trying different things, taking chances, making runs.

I expect England to bounce back, win the game and win the group. But I'm not sure that's as clearcut as the prices suggest.


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Published on 21 June 2021inEuro tips

Last updated 16:08, 21 June 2021

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